College soccer: Double jeopardy rule in soccer adjusted

The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel on Monday approved a modification to the double jeopardy portion of the penalty for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.

The panel, which met via conference call, supported the new rule that gives the referee discretion to issue a yellow card (caution) when a defender makes a legitimate attempt to play the ball when denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity and commits a direct free kick offense in the penalty area. The awarding of a penalty kick remains a part of the rule.

Previously, when a defender committed a foul while denying an obvious scoring opportunity, a penalty kick was awarded and the official issued a red card to immediately eject the player who committed the foul.